Electic Eels Keep Season Alive

The Parramatta Eels have overcome adversity to score 22 unanswered points in an electric second half of football tonight, defeating the Manly Sea Eagles in front of 17706 parochial fans at Pirtek Stadium.

For the second straight week the Eels received a controversial decision from the officials after a try to halfback Chris Sandow was disallowed by the video referee for an obstruction early in the second half. While Sandow caught the ball on the inside of the decoy runner, no Manly defender was impeded at any time and Sandow dummied and dived over.

The decision perhaps galvanised the Eel's players though as they would soon cross for their first try of the night to Kenny Edwards in the 46th minute. In the lead up superstar fullback Jarryd Hayne burst onto a backline movement to the left to make big inroads, but it was the sheer determination of Edwards to bustle his way over the line to get his team back in the contest after trailing 12-0 at halftime. Sandow nailed the conversion from the sideline to reduce the deficit to six.

Manly looked set to extend their lead soon after with back to back sets on the home team's line until Semi Radradra latched onto a Kieran Foran cross field kick and turned on the big Semi trailer engine to race the length of the field to score, swatting Manly defenders off along the way. Sandow levelled the scores at 12 apiece with the conversion in the 53rd minute.

From the ensuing set of six, Sandow who had a strong kicking game all night nailed his sixth 40/20 of the season to put his team straight back on the attack. Full of momentum, the Eels wasted no time capitalising sending centre Will Hopoate over in the 57th minute. Sandow again converted giving his team an 18-12 lead.

Manly struggled to get back into the match from this point due to a handful of unforced errors coming out of their own end. They did get a chance in the final ten minutes though off the back of a penalty against Tim Mannah for a crusher tackle which was placed on report. Manly looked set to score through winger Peta Hiku, only for Radradra to make a try saving tackle around his bootlaces.

From the ensuing set of six it was again Sandow who put his team in a position to attack after a spiralling bomb was put down by Manly fullback Brett Stewart ten metres out from his goal line. The Eels again made them pay with winger Vai Toutai crossing in the corner to ice the game with a 22-12 victory.

Earlier in the first half it looked like it would be another typical Manly performance with staunch defence and classy backline movements resulting in tries to wingers Jorge Taufua in the 4th and Peta Hiku in the 30th minutes.

At halftime some of the home team supporters may well have been wondering whether they should stick around for the second forty. Those who did will have travelled home after witnessing one of the more memorable victories since the glory days of the eighties.

Next week the Eels will travel up to the Hunter to tackle the giant killing Knights on Saturday afternoon while Manly will host a crucial match against the Panthers at Brookvale on Sunday.

Welcome to Friday night footy coming to you from Pirtek Stadium where the Parramatta Eels play host to the Manly Sea Eagles. The Eels will no doubt be desperate for the two apoints tonight to push themselves back into the top 8, while Manly will be looking to consolidate their place at the top of the table.
The home crowd will be hoping "The Hayne Plane" again takes full flight tonight and pilots his team to victory. He will need to be at his brilliant best if his team is a chance of matching the class of Cherry-Evans, Foran, Stewart & co.
In milestones tonight, Cherry-Evans & Jo Paulo will both lace their boots for their 100 NRL games.

Both teams will line up 1-17 tonight with no late changes

Players running out now

1: Were underway in Friday Night Footy Parra getting 1st use of the steeden

1: A solid 1st set with Taufya bringing in back for Manly

2: PENALTY Manly & they will have it 40 out from Parra's line

4: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES Scored by Jorge Taufua. Kick to come.Early points for Manly with Taufua finishing off a customary backline shift to the left

30: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES Scored by Peta Hiku. Kick to come.& their quick to capitalize with a quick sweep to the right sees Hiku cross in the corner

32: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon unsuccessful.Lyon from the right hand touchline this time...hooks it to the right

32: Foran puts it high but Hayne comes down with it on his own 20

33: Norman hooks a kick back to the centre for Taufua to bring it off his own line

34: Lyon stabs it down field on the last, Hayne cleans up

36: Foran attempts a chip back on the inside for Stewart who bats it forward trying grab the ball. Parra ball just short of halfway

37: Stewart takes a kick in goal. 20 restart for Manly

38: PENALTY Manly against Lussick for being inside the 10

39: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLESPenalty goal attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.Lyon takes the 2 points form just to the left of the posts

40: HALFTIME at Parramatta & Manly take a 12 point lead into the sheds. After a lightning start from Manly crossing for 1st points early on, it was Parramatta who had plenty of opportunities to hit back but couldn't come up with the keys to unlocking Manly's championship defence. Manly on the other hand look likely with the few opportunities they had. Parra will need to stay patient in attack & put some more steel in their own goal line defence to get back into this one.

41: Were back underway with Lawrence bringing it back for Manly

41: DCE kicks downfield for Hayne to bring it back to his own 30

42: PENALTY Parra against King for a swinging arm on Moeroa & Kings on report

43: A chance for Parra early in the half

44: VIDEO REF possible Parra try, checking for obstruction...

44: NO TRY after Sandow was ruled to have caught the ball on the inside of his defender, but No Manly player was obstructed... unbelievable

44: Hayne cleans the ball up on his own line & Parra receive a penalty

45: Big charge down the left from Hayne

46: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS Scored by Ken Edwards. Kick to come.Edwards crossing after bursting down the short side to bustle his way over

49: Handover for Manly on their 30 after a Sandow bomb is knocked down from Radradra

50: PENALTY Manly after a big run from Lyon

51: Repeat set after Sandow bats it dead

53: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS Scored by Semi Radradra. Kick to come.Foran chips for the corner but Radradra comes up with the grab & the Semi Trailer runs the length to score swatting defenders away on the way

73: Radradra comes up with a try saver on Hiku who looked odds on to score.

73: Parra working it out of their end

74: Sandow puts up a massive bomb & forces the error with Stewart spilling a tough one

74: Parra scrum 10 out from Manly line

76: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS Scored by Vai Toutai. Kick to come.Toutai dives over in the right corner after Hayne created space on the outside attracting defenders and Hopoate providing quick hands on the last pass

77: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow unsuccessful.Misses just to the right

77: Sandow kicks high again but Stewart cleans up the bouncing ball & charges back into the field of play

78: DCE tries a chip & chase but Norman cleans it up for Parra

79: Dropped ball Parra, Manly have a scrum 45 from their own line

80: Repeat set Parra, DCE kicks it dead

80: knock on Gower

80: FULLTIME & the Parramatta faithful rise as one to applaud an outstanding 2nd half performance from their heroes. Thanks for joining us in what was an electric night of Friday night Footy. Match Report will be coming soon